Bapedal raises alarm over Medan river pollution

Bapedal raises alarm over Medan river pollution

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan

The North Sumatra Environmental Impact Control Agency has
reported than an estimated one ton of dangerous waste is dumped
into the Belawan River in Medan municipality every day.

Agency expert Jaya Arjuna said during a recent symposium that
the agency had compiled a 12-page report titled Surveillance
Results of Belawan River, which found that the dumping of
hazardous waste in the river had been taking place for a
relatively long time.

The level of pollution in the river exceeds government
standards and the water from the Belawan is no longer safe for
human consumption or use, Jaya said.

He said that of the five rivers that flowed through the North
Sumatra capital of Medan, the Belawan and Deli rivers were the
most polluted due to the harmful waste dumped into them by
factories along their banks.

"We have found that dozens of factories frequently dump their
waste into the Belawan and Deli rivers. The waste dumped into the
Belawan River is extremely harmful as it contains high levels of
metallic substances, including lead, cadmium and zinc," Jaya told
The Jakarta Post following the symposium in Brastagi, a resort
area near Medan.

The Post observed the Belawan River and found the color of the
water to be dark brown at several locations along the river,
including near Medan Sunggal, Kampung Lalang, Klambir Lima and
Hamparak Perak. What appeared to be household waste was also seen
floating in the river.

Several residents who live along the Belawan said they had
stopped using water from the river because they were worried
about becoming ill.

"We used to use water from the river to bathe, wash our
clothes and sometimes for drinking, but we stopped using the
water about three months ago when we started feeling itchy after
using it to bathe. It seems that the river has been much more
heavily polluted by industrial waste for the last three months,"
said Uncu, 60.

Uncu, a resident of Jl. Tani Asli, said there were numerous
factories along the river. He said that because of the pollution,
residents were now forced to dig wells to get water for washing,
bathing and drinking.

Misno, 55, a resident of Kampung Lalang, said he had stopped
using water from the Belawan long ago. "The water is usually
brownish and I see many dead fish in the river. We are afraid to
use the water."

Jaya said that tests on the river found high levels of
pollution that could be harmful to humans.

"The water can damage the nervous system, cause cancer,
blindness and physical defects," he said.

He said the government had to address the problem of waste
being dumped into the Belawan and other rivers in Medan.

"If something is not done, we are afraid the problem will just
become worse and many people will be harmed," Jaya said.